Hamerton Zoo is evacuated amid fears a 'tiger has attacked a zoo keeper' as terrified visitors flee in panic

A zoo has been evacuated after emergency service rushed to a 'serious incident', with unconfirmed reports suggesting that a zoo keeper has been mauled by a tiger. Claims had earlier circulated on social media that the animal was on the loose at the zoo in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, but this was rubbished by police and park officials. Hamerton Zoo is set in 25 acres of land and is home to about 500 animals from more than 100 species, including tigers, wolves and snakes. Victoria Northover Holmes, who was at the tiger enclosure when the drama unfolded, said: 'A group of us ran into the keepers rooms for about ten minutes until a keeper said we could leave. At this point we understood by the reactions of the staff that something was going on inside the enclosure. We could see staff members on the other side of the fence with pieces of meat trying to get whatever s attention . It was heartbreaking seeing them trying to help.' In 2008, a Cheetah escaped from the same zoo and was found by a nine-year-old boy in his back garden.